YMCA Launches Buckhorn As New Camp Day Location for 2023
/YMCA of Central East Ontario has Buckhorn as one of their new day camp locations for this summer 2023 announced on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of the YMCA.
Peterborough Blogs
Peterborough Petes Introduce Free Ball Hockey For More Than 2,000 Local Students
/The Peterborough Petes have launched the Petes Ball Hockey Program for grade 4-6 students in Peterborough and the Kawarthas, providing equipment, training, and support required for the sport for free announced on Friday.
Petes Coordinator, Marketing & Community Engagement Morgan Blaind does the faceoff for players Quinton Pagé and Sam McCue. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Petes.
The program is meant to help the grassroots development of hockey in Peterborough. The Petes want to eliminate all barriers to participation in hockey according to a press release.
A launch assembly will be run by the team for each participating school including the schools’ educator ambassadors, Petes’ business staff and current players.
The students regardless of their background, level of hockey experience or physical and cognitive abilities can participate in the program. The students can also meet Petes players, get an autograph and get their first official hockey photo taken after the assembly. They will also receive an official Petes t-shirt and equipment bag, ball hockey rules guide and a letter from Peterborough-born Chase Stillman in addition to free equipment and time each week to play ball hockey in school as part of one of their school’s teams.
“The Petes Ball Hockey Program is an innovative, systematic approach to eliminating barriers to hockey participation, which will help toward our goal of ensuring everyone in Peterborough and the Kawarthas and beyond, has the chance to enjoy the sport of hockey,” said Burton Lee, Petes executive director of business operations. “Whether it be cost, time, accessibility, knowledge, culture or another factor preventing a kid from trying hockey, we believe the Petes Ball Hockey Program will be a solution.”
The first phase of the program starts with 11 schools including:
St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, Peterborough
St. Paul Catholic Elementary School, Lakefield
Kaawaate East City Public School
Terry Fox Public School
Burnham Public School
St. Anne Catholic Elementary School
Edmison Heights Public School
Bobcaygeon Public School
CR Gummow Public School
Alexandra Public School
Rhema Christian School
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Make Everyday Family Literacy Day with Five Counties
/Five Counties Children’s Centre is encouraging literacy everyday of the year, recognizing the life-long benefits of reading through Family Literacy Day on Jan. 27.
Five Counties’ Communicative Disorders Assistant Lynne Cooke (front left) reads with Dominic, as (back from left) Speech-Language Pathologist Ida Lloyd and mom Kimberly tout the benefits of reading. Photo courtesy of Five Counties.
As the day to promote literacy approaches, Five Counties wants families to make reading, language and literacy part of their everyday routine.
The staff at Five Counties believe the lessons from Family Literacy Day should be encouraged and embraced 365 days of the year.
“We can’t talk enough about the importance of literacy and speech skills for a child’s future success in life,” says Speech-Language Pathologist at Five Counties Ida Lloyd. “Reading, singing, listening, talking and playing with your child every day is not only fun, but supports literacy. It’s one of the most valuable things we as parents and caregivers can do for our kids.”
As part of its work in Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton, Five Counties Children’s Centre provides therapy and support services for hundreds of children with speech, language and communication needs. They say developmental milestones, like those listed here by the Ontario Government, can be a good tool to measure the progress a child is making to communicate. Five Counties also offers tips, milestones and resources on its KidTalk website for families to support children’s speech skills.
“There are many fun ways that families can encourage literacy skills, without children even realizing they are learning. Reading a book at bedtime, visiting the library, playing a board game together or swapping jokes while doing the dishes can all be great options,” says Lloyd. “Engaging a child for 15 or 20 minutes every day by reading and promoting literacy skills is worth every minute, especially given the life-long rewards it has for everyone.”
Five Counties has shared 12 tips (as compiled by the Start Early organization) that families can use to support literacy for young children:
Start early. Reading to babies is important for healthy brain development and lays the foundation for language and writing skills.
Make reading part of the daily routine. Reading or sharing a story every day is ideal. Create a set time during the day (like just before bed) to which parents and children can look forward.
Try board and cloth books for babies. By age one, babies can grab books. Board and cloth books are great options for youngsters who like to touch things and put them in their mouths.
Take turns with your toddler. At their second birthday, most toddlers can hold a book and point at pictures. Let your toddler turn the pages of a board book and respond to her when she points or reacts to the story.
Ask your child questions while reading. Make the reading experience interactive. Ask them questions, like: “what do you think will happen next?,’ or “What was your favorite part of the story?”
Reread favorite books. Most three-year-olds can complete sentences in familiar stories. Read their favorite books over and over to help them learn through repetition.
Point out similar words. By age four, children begin to recognize letters. Pointing out words in a book that start with the same letter can help preschoolers become familiar with the letter, helping them recognize certain words that start with that letter.
Count objects on the page. If reading to a child, count objects on the page together to help strengthen early math skills.
Get a child to tell the story. After their fifth birthday, children can sit still for longer books and create their own stories based on the pictures. Ask a child to share the basic plot of the book or make up stories based on what is seen on each page.
Read with passion! Using inflection and maintaining the same highs and lows in your voice at the same point in a story helps your child begin to remember the words.
Set an example. Let your child see you reading books to help them develop their own love of reading.
Read, read, read and repeat. Reading to your child helps develop a love of stories and books, while taking you to new worlds and on new adventures. Read to a child early and often!
Winterfest 2023 Fundraiser In Support of Five Counties
/Join Five Counties Children’s Centre for family-friendly, in-person and virtual fun during their Winterfest 2023 fundraiser.
Five Counties Children’s Centre staff members Linsey Kampf, Lyn Giles and Lisa Graham are ready to hop aboard Winterfest. Photo courtesy of Five Counties.
Winterfest 2023 is set to include virtual and in-person activities which will offer lots for families to do as the event transitions back to ‘normal’ since the pandemic. In-person events will happen on the Family Day weekend at malls in Peterborough and Lindsay, ending with a Peterborough Petes’ home game on Family Day Monday. There will also be an online auction, a variety of fun, family-friendly events and a ‘thank you card’ contest for kids starting Feb. 1.
In 2022, Winterfest raised nearly $20,000 to support the programs and services provided by Five Counties to more than 6,000 children and their families in Peterborough City-County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland County and Haliburton County.
“If you suffer from the winter blahs, Winterfest 2023 is a great way to celebrate the season with fun, in-person and virtual activities for the entire family,” says CEO of Five Counties Children’s Centre Scott Pepin. “Taking part in Winterfest also helps support the life- changing work provided by Five Counties to help kids with physical, communication and development needs in our communities.”
Winterfest 2023 festivities include:
Feb. 1 to Feb. 28 – Winterfest kicks off with the first-ever ‘Thank You Card Contest’ for Kids. Show appreciation to Five Counties supporters by writing words, creating a drawing or colouring a picture that says ‘thank you.’ Kids can enter to win prizes, and one child’s artwork will be selected and featured on Five Counties thank you cards. Find contest rules and colouring sheet samples on the Five Counties website.
Feb. 16 to Feb. 21 – Check out the many Winterfest Virtual Events available, including a workout with the Peterborough Petes, winter scavenger hunt, story times, baking demo, snow creature contest and magic show.
Feb. 16 to Feb. 21 – Winterfest’s Online Auction featuring a selection of hand-made quilts, artisanal wood items, gift cards, kids’ toys and more. Register online to join the bidding.
Feb. 18 – In-person, family-friendly fun Winterfest activities at Lansdowne Place mall (645 Lansdowne St. W) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Feb. 19 – Winterfest festivities coming to Lindsay Square Mall (401 Kent St. W) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Feb. 20 – Cheer on the Peterborough Petes as they host the Sudbury Wolves. Take part in a raffle and have a chance to win prizes, all while supporting Five Counties.
Canadian Tire stores in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg, Campbellford and Fenelon Falls return as Winterfest’s lead sponsor in 2023.
“Winterfest is a great way to embrace the season, while supporting the valuable work being done by Five Counties,” says Canadian Tire Peterborough South owner Ralph Moulton. “We’re proud and pleased to again be able to assist a great community event and organization.”
28 TASSS Students Became Budding Entrepreneurs, Hosting a Shareholders Meeting As Part of Business Class Curriculum
/There were 28 students of Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (TASSS) who turned a profit as they created and sold a business, hosting a shareholders meeting as part of their curriculum that was held on Friday afternoon.
Several roles were bid on by the students to claim during the entrepreneurship such as production, human resources, health and safety, marketing and more. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
The students were tasked to become entrepreneurs by creating and running a business, assigned by TASSS business teacher Blaine White throughout the semester. Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO) partnered with the program by providing weekly advice with guest speakers.
“At the beginning of the semester, we have students learn about planning a business and then they start their own business,” explained White. “They're responsible for all of the production, all of the marketing, all of the sales and all of the finances.”
“Youth will have the opportunity to learn and experience skilled trades and entrepreneurship by creating, managing and liquidating a business,” said John McNutt, JA-NEO president and CEO. “All with the guidance and support of experts from across our community.”
TASSS students had to arrange their own shareholder meeting with speeches, a presentation and report to the media and public. Photo by Samantha Bianco.
The students founded the company ‘Encompase Eco’ which created eco-friendly firestarters that were available to purchase at the Kawartha Buttertart Factory & Bakery.
The students held a final shareholder meeting to disclose all of the earnings and share prices. They had over a 381 per cent return in selling the business according to White.
“It's amazing to me to set the bar and watch students rise to the occasion,” he explained. “I couldn't be happier that they've learned all these really awesome skills that they are going to go and carry out into their own lives and perhaps starts their own businesses in our community but I'm also proud of them as people who have developed over the last five months.”
The students were excited to receive hands-on education instead of learning solely through a textbook according to grade 10 student Aiden Budd, who served as the company’s vice president of production.
“I've never experienced anything like this, the textbooks get so boring but now that I got the opportunity to do something like this, it really feels great,” he exclaimed.
During the semester, students had to bid and campaign for roles within the company before starting the business. The students had to arrange their own shareholder meeting with speeches, a presentation and a report before the media and public. The whole process had its bumps but became an instant unforgettable experience for the students.
“I know a lot of people were nervous to get up here but I actually did enjoy it a lot, I'm proud of myself and my team for doing a great job. Mr. White, I thanked him so much for having the opportunity to be able to run this business because there are not a lot of kids that get the opportunity to do stuff like this.”
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Photos: Christopher Fee Cup Kicks Off 63rd Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament
/Kicking off the 63rd Liftlock U11 Hockey Tournament, the first game of the tournament saw the Central Ontario Wolves AAA take on the Peterborough Petes Major AAA 4-0 for the Christopher Fee Cup at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Friday morning.
The cup is a feature opening game against a visiting team against the host Petes team since 1997. Callum ‘Coach Cal’ Perks performed the ceremonial puck drop and helped present the post-game awards to the two teams. The Wolves defeated the Petes in a 4-0 shutout to win the 2023 Christopher Fee Cup.
The tournament features 87 teams in 11 divisions playing throughout 10 arenas in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.
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GoFundMe Created To Help Young Girl Diagnosed With B-Cell Leukemia Days After Fourth Birthday
/It may not be the best present for four-year-old Ellie Bell as she was diagnosed with B-Cell leukemia shortly after her fourth birthday but a GoFundMe was set up to aid the family.
Bell after meeting Santa Clause at Lansdowne Place Mall while she got her face painted. Photo courtesy of Natalie Campbell.
Bell received the diagnosis four days after her fourth birthday (Dec. 12). She was release from the hospital after spending 10 days according to a Facebook post from her mother.
It began as what the family thought was a high fever and Bell was taken to the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. She was eventually taken to SickKids Hospital on the same day for several tests including blood work, x-rays and ultrasounds.
The second day, Bell had to be put on a feeding tube while already on five days with no food or fluids according to the GoFundMe page. It was revealed that she respiratory syncytial virus, urinary tract infection and rhinovirus resulting in a a prescription of heavy antibiotics and receiving a blood transfusion (which gradually helped her condition).
On Bell’s 10th and final day at the hospital — which was her birthday — she received a bone marrow aspiration and biopsy because her cell line numbers were still low as stated in the GoFundMe. She was released from the hospital that day. During that time, Bell’s mother had openly asked friends and family to send videos wishing her a happy birthday.
Bell was readmitted on Thursday for a lumbar puncture and her first round of chemotherapy. I was administrated directly into her spine to prevent the cells from travelling to her spinal fluid and brain. A second round of chemotherapy on the same day.
On Friday, Bell will ‘receive a port line inserted in her chest to prevent two years worth of needle pokes’ according to Natalie Campbell, Bell’s great aunt.
Bell began junior kindergarten however her treatment will take roughly two to three years and is unable to return to class until the following school year. The parents have taken time off work to care for her during the recovery process.
“Our top priority is making sure Ellie has the love and support she needs to stay strong, as well as getting more answers in the coming weeks to further determine her prognosis,” said Campbell.
The GoFundMe was created by Campbell on Thursday that has already seen short of $5,000 of the $10,000 goal.
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Five Counties Children's Centre Offers Holiday Preparation Tips
/Five Counties Children’s Centre (FCCC) is offering holiday tips for families to make the holidays merry and light.
Photo courtesy of Five counties Children’s centre.
“Whether celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Winter Solstice, the holiday season comes with high expectations, changes in routine and extra stimulation that can be overwhelming for some kids,” says Ashley Parsons, FCCC occupational therapist. “As parents and families, it’s important to reduce the stress and anxiety created by the holidays to make it a more enjoyable time for everyone.”
According to FCCC staff, it is not just children on the autism spectrum or with sensory processing issues who can be impacted by the holidays.
“The pandemic has disrupted large gatherings and in-person celebrations, creating a situation where many kids aren’t equipped or don’t know how to socialize or engage in play with others outside their immediate families,” Parsons says.
Preparation involves a plan for success, says FCCC. They suggest the use of calendars to mark events and count down the days and photos/maps/videos as visuals to share with younger family members or children who have communication challenges to help prepare them for who/where you’re visiting.
FCCC also offers the following tips to help prepare your family for the holidays:
Decorate less or do it gradually. While holiday decorations make the season brighter, they can also be disruptive for some kids. Pulling out pictures from previous holiday seasons can help children adjust to what’s planned (if you don’t have photos, take some this year). Having kids involved in decorating can ease the process, as can taking a step-by-step approach to decorating. For instance, set up the tree one day, but wait until the next day before starting to decorate. Once decorations are up, set clear rules about what can and can’t be touched.
Give gifts the right way. Most children get excited over holiday gifts, but for some kids, it can be overwhelming. If a child starts to obsess over a desired gift, find ways to manage their interest. For example, try a ‘five-for-five swap.’ Give your child five stickers that can be exchanged for being able to talk about the gift for a five-minute interval. To help manage holiday gift expectations, make a list with your child of realistic items he or she wants for the holidays. This list can then be shared with family members and friends who can register to purchase one of the desired gifts.
Change for the better isn’t always better. Many children thrive on routine, and the holidays can throw off schedules. Having familiar items on hand can help calm stressful situations. If you are travelling for the holidays, make sure you have a child’s favourite books, toys, games and activities. Rehearse in advance what will happen or what can be expected to also ease children through any change or disruption of routine.
Here’s food for thought. Enjoying a holiday meal with friends or family may not be enjoyable for all kids, especially if they are picky eaters or unlikely to enjoy unfamiliar food that’s on the menu. Some kids may also have allergies or require special diets. Have some of your child’s favourite or familiar foods on hand for dinner, either by bringing it yourself or ensuring some will be served during the holiday meal. If needed, identify a quiet area where your child can go to eat on their own if mealtime with others is too much.
Take a break. Have a plan in case holiday visits or festivities become too overwhelming. Develop a signal that you child can use to say they need a break or want to be on their own. Work with your host to find a pre-determined quiet space for your child to de-stress. Have headphones with songs or stories that your child can wear to calm themselves and drown out surrounding noises.
Dress for success. Ensure your child wears clothing that is familiar and will not cause discomfort if going to a special holiday dinner or event.
Prepare others for what to expect. The holidays are a time to gather with loved ones, so help them to understand your child. Be open and honest. Offer strategies on how they can help reduce anxiety or stress with your child. Help them see that your child may prefer not to be hugged. Share potential triggers that could cause your child to become upset. Stress to loved ones the importance of remaining calm and neutral to avoid outbursts.
“You know your child best, so look to what has worked for your family in situations or holidays past,” said Parsons. “With a bit of planning and preparation, you and your child can enjoy a wonderful holiday season that is merry and a bit light!”
U13 Hockey Team Raises $1,300 For Needing Families on Giving Tuesday
/The U13 Central Ontario AAA Wolves put their generous spirit on display raising nearly $1,350 to purchase gifts on ‘Giving Tuesday’ for needing families for in Peterborough.
Photo courtesy of Chad Birkhof.
“It’s something that we’ve done with other teams we’ve coached,” said Chad Birkhof, Wolves head coach. “For us, it was a bit of a team-building function. Those kids raised that money on their own and they had the opportunity to buy for those families and children. It’s the gift of giving at Christmas.”
The team consisted of players from Peterborough, Omemee, Bobcaygeon and Lindsay. They shopped for gifts at Walmart on Chemong Road with their coaches and determined what would be suitable for the respective families they were helping.
The Wolves had sponsored a family of four and gave gifts to them as well as two other teenagers (one boy and one girl).
“We are so proud of this group of boys and so grateful that the Wolves are able to spread some Christmas cheer and support those who need it the most,” said Courtney Bribeau, Central Ontario Wolves ice scheduler. “Thanks to the coaches and mothers who helped pull all of this together.”
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Popular Children's Education Youtube Star Blippi To Perform at Peterborough Memorial Centre on Mar. 10
/Popular Youtube star Blippi is bringing his entertaining kids’ education antics to town at the Peterborough Memorial Centre for his ‘Blippi: The Wonderful World Tour’ show on Mar. 10 announced on Tuesday.
lippi has become a worldwide sensation with more than one billion monthly views on YouTube and more than 50 million fans around the world. Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.
